Evidence & Trust

Recommended concentrations for maintenance of body weight at an average caloric intake for dogs of a given optimum

In line with this regulation, the product is designed to recommended concentrations for body weight maintenance at optimal caloric intake.

Total protein (Reproduction) The recommendation for protein assumes the diet contains some carbohydrate to decrease the risk of hypoglycaemia in the bitch and neonatal mortality. If carbohydrate is absent or at a very low level, the protein requirement is much higher, and may be double (Kienzle E et al. 1985, Kienzle E et al. 1989, Romsos DR et al. 1981). Total protein (Growth) For practical foods made from cereals and various animal by-products, the crude protein level needed for maximum nitrogen retention appears to be about 25 per cent dry matter for newly weaned puppies, whereas for puppies over 14 weeks of age it is 20 % dry matter (NRC 2006d).

In line with this regulation, total protein recommendations assume some carbohydrate in the food. For growth-stage formulation, crude protein is set at approximately 25% for newly weaned puppies and 20% dry matter for puppies over 14 weeks of age.

Arginine (All life stages) The arginine requirement increases with increased protein content owing to its role as an intermediate in the urea cycle. For every gram of crude protein above the stated values, an additional 0.01 g of arginine is required (NRC 2006g). See ANNEX 7.4.

In line with this regulation, arginine (all life stages) is formulated to appropriate levels, considering its role as an intermediate in the urea cycle and its requirement scaling with protein content.

Lysine (nutritional maximum for puppies) It was concluded that the highest no-effect-level of lysine for puppies was 2.91 % DM (energy density 4156 kcal/kg or 17.39 MJ/kg). This is equivalent to 7.0 g/1000 kcal (1.67 g/ MJ) or 2.8 % DM (at 4 kcal/g DM) and this is therefore the FEDIAF maximum for puppy growth.

In line with this regulation, since excess lysine (base feed 0.91% + supplement 4%) may reduce weight gain in puppies, the maximum is set to an appropriate 2.91% DM.

Methionine-Cystine The recommended values are based on a dog food containing a very low taurine content, i.e. <100 mg/kg dry matter (Sanderson SL et al. 2001). For products containing higher levels of taurine the RA for sulphur amino acids can be lower than the values quoted in the table. For further information see taurine section ANNEX 7.3.

In line with this regulation, methionine-cystine recommendations for adult dogs are formulated taking taurine content into account.

Tyrosine (All life stages) For maximisation of black hair colour, the tyrosine content may need to be 1.5 to 2 times higher than the amount stated (Biourge V et al. 2002, NRC 2006g).

In line with this regulation, tyrosine content is formulated based on the noted reference values.

It is recommended that the ratio of IU of vitamin E to grams of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) be > 0.6:1 a diet containing 50 IU of vitamin E will have a ration > 0.6 :1 when the PUFA contain an additional 0.6 IU of vitamin E for every gram of PUFA. Because processing may destroy up to 90% of thiamine in the diet allowances in formulation should be made to ensure the minimum nutrient concentration thiamine is met after processing.

In line with this regulation, the vitamin E to PUFA ratio is set above 0.6:1, and Vitamin B1 (thiamine) — which has a high loss rate during processing — is formulated to meet minimum concentration requirements.

Vitamin A The FEDIAF maximum is based on the studies reported by Hathcock JN et al. (1990), Goldy GG et al. (1996) and Cline JL et al. (1997) in adult dogs. The value is 80 % of the dose that Goldy GG et al. (1996) identified "as may be approaching a level that challenges the dog's ability to maintain normal vitamin A homeostasis" and about 45 % of the no-adverse-effect intake established by Cline JL et al. (1997) over one year (no detrimental effects on bone health). Furthermore Hathcock JN et al. (1990) reported an intake at least three times the FEDIAF nutritional maximum as safe in adult dogs fed for ten months (body growth and haematological indices unaffected). In view of these data the FEDIAF maximum is considered appropriate for all life stages.

In line with this regulation, Vitamin A is precisely formulated considering both nutritional efficiency and safety.

Vitamin D Studies in Great Dane puppies showed that a dietary vitamin D level of 435 IU/100 g DM can affect Ca absorption and may stimulate endochondral ossification disturbances (Tryfonidou MA et al. 2002a, Tryfonidou MA et al. 2002b). Therefore, 320 IU per 100 g DM should be the nutritional maximum for growing giant breed dogs (NRC 2006l). Based on differences in cholecalciferol metabolism between giant breed and small breed puppies (Tryfonidou MA et al. 2002b), 425 IU/100 g DM can be considered a safe nutritional maximum for small breed puppies. Since there is no information on maximum safe intakes for adult dogs and breeding bitches, FEDIAF recommends the same nutritional maximum for other life stages as those indicated for puppies. Vitamin E Vitamin E requirements depend on the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and the presence of other antioxidants. An increased level of vitamin E may be required if the intake of PUFA is high, particularly from fish oil (Hall JA 1996, Hall JA et al. 2003, Hendriks WH et al. 2002). B Vitamins The recommended minimum of B Vitamins corresponds to NRC (2006i). Adequate Intake (AI) based on bioavailable forms coming from a vitamin premix at the point of consumption. When no AI level has been identified (and for Vitamin B1), the recommended minimum was based on the NRC Recommended Allowance.

In line with this regulation: 1. Excessive vitamin D intake may affect calcium absorption and joint health in large breed dogs, so appropriate levels are formulated. 2. Vitamin E is formulated considering polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant balance. 3. B vitamins are formulated considering bioavailability.

Deficiencies may result from inadequate vitamin K in the diet, disruption of microbial synthesis within the gut (e.g., antibiotic use), inadequate absorption from the intestine, ingestion of vitamin K antagonists (substances that counteract the effect of vitamin K), or the inability of the liver to utilize available vitamin K. In many species, under normal health conditions endogenous synthesis of vitamin K is sufficient to meet metabolic needs without the requirement for a dietary source. However, in addition to medical conditions and/or use of therapeutic agents that may result in impaired synthesis, absorption or utilization of vitamin K, acquired vitamin K deficiencies may also occur due to other dietary factors. For example, cats fed commercial canned diets high in salmon or tuna were found to suffer prolonged coagulation times, gastrointestinal and hepatic hemorrhages and death (Strieker et al., 1996). However, these signs were not observed when the animals were given supplemental phylloquinone (vitamin K1). High dietary intake of sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids may also result in signs of vitamin K deficiency (Mameesh and Johnson, 1959; Saker et al., 1998). Because other fat-soluble vitamins may compete and hence interfere with vitamin K absorption, the addition of high levels of tocopherols to retard oxidation (for either preservative or nutritional reasons) in the food may be an aggravating factor in the development of a vitamin K deficiency. Vitamin K is generally known to exist in three forms, two of them are naturally occurring and one is a synthetic analogue which can be found naturally on normal Vitamin K metabolic pathways: It is also noted that menadione, the synthetic vitamin K usually used in animal feed, can be added up to levels as high as 1,000 times the dietary requirement without seeing any adverse effects in animals, except when used parentally in horses. Vitamin K and the vitamin K active substances serve important roles in providing an essential nutrient in animal diets. The expert panel recommended that Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex may be used as a safe and suitable source of Vitamin K activity in the food for all animals in the United States in accordance with good manufacturing and feeding practices.

In line with this regulation, the relationship between omega-3 content and vitamin K (Menadione Sodium Bisulfite) has been carefully considered in the formulation.